����Vlog��ý

Computer science and studio art major develops passion for animation through Micro Fellowship

Atomu Maruyama ’26, a computer science and studio art major at ����Vlog��ý,��blended his creative and technical skills��throughout the summer,��interning��as an animator and 3D modeler with The AAT Project, a media and innovation company.��During the Micro Fellowship,��Maruyama��designed 3D assets and animations that contributed to the organization’s brand identity and marketing initiatives, allowing him to explore his passions in design��and programming.��

“Through this internship, I gained practical skills that I’ll carry forward in my career, especially in 3D modeling and animation.”����

—��Atomu Maruyama ’26��

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES����

I��found out��about this internship opportunity through Handshake, the��student��employment website.��The��role of��a��3D modeler/animator��seemed like an��ideal fit for me because it aligned closely with both my academic background and career goals.��I’m��passionate about entering the video game or animation industry, and this internship��provided��valuable experience in creating 3D assets, rigging, and animation skills that are essential for my professional development.��

Atomu Maruyama ’26 expanded on his skills in game design while working with The AAT Project.

LESSONS LEARNED����

What interested me most about the work was discovering the differences between 3D models in video games��and��animation. Since my��role��was��involved in the video game industry, I learned the importance of��optimizing��assets by keeping the polygon count as low as possible. Each day, I worked��

on background environment modeling using��softwares��like��Maya and Blender.��I��also��focused��on animation clip organization,��ensuring��the animations��were coherent��in the game engine��Unity.����

EXPANDED PERSPECTIVE����

This internship confirmed that I enjoy working in 3D modeling and animation, especially for games. I learned how to��optimize��models for game engines, manage low-polygon��workflows, and work with rigs tailored for Unity. I also improved my ability to import and organize animation clips, edit animations, and troubleshoot within both Maya/Blender and Unity.��Through this internship, I gained practical skills that��I’ll��carry forward in my career, especially in 3D modeling and animation.��

WHAT’S NEXT��

The APEX Micro Fellowship experience motivated me to continue developing my skills through personal projects and gave me a clearer idea of the kind of work I want to pursue in the future.��The technical skills��I’ve��developed this past summer, along with a better understanding of production pipelines, have strengthened my foundation for a future in the video game or animation industry.��

Featured image: Atomu Maruyama ’26 interned as an animator and 3D modeler with The AAT Project over the past summer. Photo provided by subject.

Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2025 on August 6, 2025.